"HiiS 

QQQ0635bl"il 






-n.-o^ 



x-^ 



^ CI, 















5^ -V 



<. 







,v' ^^ 



' .^^ 





v-o^ 



















-^^0^ 

.^'^°- 







.<J^^ ..-•. 



■°^. '•^•.•' ^0 




. '^ 



- -^^0^ 







..«' YV 




o V 










.'. -^^0^ o 



4 o 







^^-^^^ 











^^^ .^- 













•*' ^' 










^^ 



THE 



SCIENCE OF SELF DEFENCE. 



A TKEATISE ON 



SPARRING AND WRESTLING, 



[KCIiUDING COMPLETE INSTKUCTIONS m TEAINING AND PHYSICAL 
DEVELOPMENT. 



£ iVEKAL REMARKS UPON, AND A COURSE PRESCRIBED 
FOR THE REDUCTION OF CORPULENCY. 



BY EDMUND E. PEICE. 






■^Trt- 



NEW YOEK : 
DICK & FITZGEEALD, PUBLISHERS. 



\W1 



Qv 



n 3$ 

7P9 f 



Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867, by 

DICK & FJTZGERALD, 

In the Clerk's ofSce of the District Coui-t of the United States, for the Southern 

District of New York. 



Pharles p. Godfrey, ^sq., 

THE GBNEBOUS FKIEND 

AND ACCOMPLISHED GENTLEMAN, 

THIS WOEE 

IS AJPPECTIONATELX DEDICATED BY 
THE AUTHOE. 




PREFACE 



N giving tlie following pages to the world, 
we do so witli a certain degree of anxiety 
oscillating between pride and fear — pride at 
our maiden effort— /ear for its success. "We began 
to write tMs work in 1860, but tlie war breaking out 
soon after, compelled us to defer tke undertaking to 
a more auspicious season. And now tkat Military 
arms are no longer fasHonable, doubtless "Old Na- 
ture's" arms in adjusting quarrels or in self-protection 
will be the only weapons needed- Therefore as a 
natural consequence, their practical development'and 
scientific use should be earnestly cultivated. 

Some readers may inquire why our work needs a 
preface, and many devoted to light literature may con- 
sider all prefaces lores. With all due deference, we 
esteem this an error, for from a preface you may glean 



the author's intentions and opinions in reference to his 
work. The prefaces of Sir "Walter Scott, are models 
of humor and historic truth and beauty ; those of 
Bulwer instructive and interesting. At all events the 
most eminent authors in all ages have in their prefaces 
deprecated the severity of critics and appealed to the 
kindness of their readers in regard to faults and im- 
perfections and anticipated objections, 

"Custom exacts, and who denies her sway? 
An epilogue to every five-act play." 

So it is equally imperative on the subject of prefaces. 
We have therefore resolved that our little bantling 
shall be ushered into this "breathing world" with all 
the literary honors. But what shall our preface treat 
of? Shall we go back to the days of Grreece and Rome 
and exhibit our classic lore in recounting the sports 
and games of antiquity; how at religious festivals 
the noblest of the Grecians ■ and Romans contended in 
throwing the discus, hurling the javelin, Running, 
Leaping, Wrestling and Boxing f Shall we tell of the 
Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian or Nemean games, and 
how for ten months the Athletes underwent prepara- 
tory training in the Gymnasium at Elis under the 
careful tuition of accomplished Masters, and how the 
greatest Statesmen, Poets, and Warriors contended for 
the Olive Crown, and how Alcibiades, the finest 



PREFACE, XI 

formed man of his age, owed Ms exquisite and superb 
physique to Ms training for tlie Olympian games? 

" He deemed it no small part of his renown 1 

To wear the Olive with the Laurel crown." 

Our purpose is not to dwell on the past; but no 
one familiar with the history of the Grrecian or Eoman 
people, can fail to realize the fact, that to out-door 
sports and games they were indebted for their stalwart 
warriors, warriors that made Eome the mistress of the 
world. It was only when effeminacy and luxury per- 
vaded the masses of the nation that the seven-hilled 
Queen fell before the conquering arm of the Groths 
and Yandals. "We presume no one at the present day 
will deny the advantages (not only to the sedentary 
but to every one) of wise and systematic physical 
training. The umon of strength and beauty in the 
human form is the greatest point to be acMeved, and 
if " Mens sana in corpore sano'^ is the greatest of bless- 
ings, it can only be obtained by a judicious exercise 
of all the powers of the mind and the muscles of the 
body acting in harmony; therefore we do not fear 
contradiction in asserting that out-door sports and 
gymnastic exercises promote cheerfulness, "clear the 
cobwebs from the brain," excite a healthy circulation 
of the blood, and brace and harden the muscles. How 
many earnest students have defeated all their efforts 



Xn TREFACE. 

for the elevation of mankind, by a neglect of tbis most 
obvious principle of busbanding and strengtbening 
tbeir pbjsical resources ; dooming tbemselves to a life 
of suffering and a premature grave. We could quote 
many illustrious examples of tbis neglect of tbe body, 
in tbe over anxiety for tbe development of tbe in 
tellectual powers. Tbougb perfect barmonyis perfect 
beauty, and tbougb tbe immortal soul, tbe ever-active 
mind of man, are gems of priceless value, not less 
wortby of preservation and care is tbe casket in wbicb 
tbey are ensbrined. 

But our work is not a treatise on medicine — and 
we must not Mgbten our readers, nor must we com- 
mit tbe worst of offences in tbis wide-awake age by 
becoming prosy. Our object, tben, in tbis volume is 
to give a correct and reliable Manual on tbe " Art of 
Self Bef&nce^'' not founded on " obsolete" rules of a 
by-gone age, but on xue practical results of our own 
experience and obser\^ation, and, we trust, witb a clear- 
ness and precision tbat will render it invaluable to tbe 
pupil and interesting to tbe amateur and general reader. 
We also give sucb bints on training as will be usefiil 
to all persons engaged in sedentary pursuits. 

Even tbose wbo look witb borror and disgust on 
tbe Priae Ring are willing to allow tbat a scientific 
knowledge of self defence is desirable simply a^ a, 



PEEFACE. Xm 

means of self preservation and protection, and cer- 
tainly the philantliropist, of two evils will choose the 
least, a " free fight," which, as Shakespeare says may 
end in "bloody noses and cracked crowns," being far 
preferable to the wholesale butcheries that have too 
often disgraced the civilization of many of our large 
cities. 

Man is a pugnacious animal. The organ of com- 
hativeness is largely developed in many heads, and has 
just as legitimate a place as Reverence or Ideality^ and 
though Phrenologists term it a propensity, (in contra- 
distinction to the moral and intellectual organs,) it 
enters largely into every enterprise in which courage 
and energy are indispensable. Without it, Greorge 
Stevenson would never have spanned England with 
railroads, or our Fulton set his first steamer floating 
in majestic beauty on the fair bosom of the Hudson. 
Wisdom should teach us, not to ignore either its ex- 
istence, or power for good or evil, but how wisely to 
guide and control it. It is a well-known fact that pro- 
fessional pugilists are generally men of great forbearance 
under provocation, and we are satisfied that a thorough 
knowledge of the " Art of Self Defence" renders men 
not quarrelsome but forbearing, for they feel it is 
" glorious to possess a giant's strength, but cowardly to 
use it like a giant." Therefore, on the score of good 



XIV PREFACE. 

manners and good breeding, we suggest a thorough 
cultivation of this manly accomplishment. But we 
must bring these pi eliminary remarks to a close, trust- 
ing our labors will not prove entirely in vain. As 
physical training is exciting attention in this country, 
we hope our little book may be the means of attract- 
ing the notice of those who have hitherto given little 
thought to the subject, that its hints may be acted 
upon, and that its judicious system of training may 
plant the rose on tc any a faded cheek and that we may 
see the rare combination of physical beauty, strength 
and gentleness, un'tcd to those moral and intellectual 
qualities that ever mark the true gentleman. 



C ON TENTS. 



PAGE 

The Aem 17 

The Feet, 23 

The Head, , 28 

The Body, 32 

Spaeeing, , . . . 35 

Blow Number One, 38 

Blow Number Two, 41 

Blow Number Three, ..,..., 45 

Blow Number Four, , 47 

Blow Number Five, - 50 

Blow Number Six, 53 

Blow Number Seven, 55 

Pabettng, 59 

Parry Number One, 61 

Parry Number Two, 63 

Parry Number Three, , 65 

Pany Number Four, 67 

Parry Number Five 69 

Parry Number Six, 71 

Parry Number Seven, 73 



XVI CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Fibbing, 76 

Cross and Counter Fibbing, 78 

Getting the Head in Chanceey, 81 

Getting the Head ottt op Ohancebt, 85 

SlDE-FAULS, 91 

Cboss-buttocks 93 

Steikeng the Bag, 96 

iNTEODtrCTION TO TEAINING, 98 

Teaining, 110 

ooepulency, 123 




THE ARM 



S a motive power for offence or defence, it 
would be a mere waste of our time as well as 
that of our readers, were we to expatiate upon 
the propriety of the heading to these pages. The 
arm is literally the principal motive power physi- 
cally given to man for offence and defence. This is 
self evident. Who, possessing the ordinary instinct of 
pugnacity common to humanity, ever received a blow 
that did not at once acknowledge the favor by '• hitting 
out" straight from the shoulder? "Who that is about 
to receive one, does not instinctively place himself as 
rapidly as possible in the best natural position to ward 
it off ? 

Whether a man is of an extremely bellicose disposi- 
tion or otherwise, the disposition to return or parry a 
blow is instinctive and cannot be wanting in his nor- 
mal condition. 

With or without a weapon, it may be considered 



18 



invaluable. To the honor of the Anglo-Saxon blood, 
let it be said that the tendency to use a weapon is 
rarely evinced, either by the American or Englishman, 
save the cause of quarrel be one wMch blood alone 
can wipe out, or there is such a manifest disparity in 
age or physical strength between the parties as to ren- 
der such a trial of the question between them in its 
results, a prejudged certainty. 

Let me then indicate to my readers the best manner 
in which, they can employ the original weapons of 
defence which they inberit from their primary pro- 
genitor. Old Adam. 

To administer a blow with sharp and telling effect, 
it is absolutely necessary that you should be precise 
and clean in your delivery ; otherwise, instead of in- 
j uring your opponent, you are liable to disable yourself. 
This must, as a necessary consequence, render you liable 
to defeat, even though you may be infinitely stronger 
than your adversary. To avoid this, your first atten- 
tion should be given to the position of your arms. 
They should invariably be disposed in an easy attitude, 
(which, because it is easy, is certain to be graceful,) as 
ready to repel an attack efficiently, as to retaliate upon, 
by assailing, your adversary. 

The position of the arms ypill, however, have to be 
varied according to your own capabilities. 



THE AEM. 19 

No specific or invariable rule can be given wHcb is 
applicable to every kind of figure, disposition, or weigbt. 

Tbere are perbaps in tbe world no two pu.gilists 
wbose position Is precisely alike wben tbey spar or 
figbt As no two poets treating tbe same subject would 
deliver tbemselves of tbe same numbers — as no two 
painters wben embodying tbe same subject could treat 
it in perfectly tbe same manner, and as no two men 
possess exactly tbe same lineaments — so is it almost 
an impossibility for two pugilists to take exactly tbe 
same attitude, bowever nearly tbe pbysical conforma- 
tion of one man may approacb tbe otber. However, 
wbile we state tbis, tbere are rules witbout tbe ob- 
servance of wbicb neitber tbe poet nor painter can do 
anytbing wortb looking at So tbere are rules for tbe 
po'sition of tbe arms, wbicb you would do well to at- 
tend to, if you intend covering yourself or punisbing 
your opponent. Sbould tbese by any cbance or ig- 
norance be unobserved, tbe unavoidable certainty 
would be tbat your frontispiece would be so elabor- 
ately ornamented by your assailant, or at all events 
your body would be so cruelly punisbed, tbat you migbt 
find it extremely unpleasant to be visible to your 
fiiends for tbe ensuing two or tbree weeks. Under 
tbese circumstances you may in*-all probability find it 
as well as not to attend to tbem. 



20 



THE AEM. 



In the first place tlie hand should be properly closed, 
or, as the phrase is, the fist should be properly made 
up. This is a matter of much importance and will 
require practice. The fingers should be clenched, (not 
too tightly,) and the thumb fo doubled down outside 
of them, that when the arm is in proper position for 




-FIBST POSITION. 



action before your adversary, he can see no portion of it 
above the knuckles. If the hand be rightly held the 
knuckles form a sort of arch, and if at the moment the 



THE AEM. 21 

blow be given, the band be clencbed witb all your 
might it cannot but be effective. 

In the next place your left arra. should be extended 
at about two thirds of its whole length, and the ex- 
tremity of the arm should range just below the level 
of your shoulder. The back of the hand should be 
turned downward, but at the same time the hand 
should be slightly turned upward from the wrist. By 
this position the back of jour knuckles will be thrown 
exactly upon a line with the face of your opponent. 

The advantage of this position of the left arm, is 
self evident, and nothing could well be easier or less 
fatiguing, and while its powerful propelling muscle is 
scarcely in full tension, it is capable of complete and 
prompt exertion at any moment for offence or defence. 

Secondly, your right arm should be extended across 
your body, your finger knuckles touching the nipple 
of the left breast. This must necessarily bring the 
knuckles of the back of your hand immediately towards 
your adversary's face. 

This position is even easier than that of the left arm, 
while its advantages are precisely the same. 

In each of them your elbows should be evenly 
squared, so that when either arm is put in motion, it 
will just clear the body either in drawing back or ad- 
vancing. 



22 



Thirdly, when you are sparring you deliver or push 
out each arm alternately, throwing out the one arm, as 
you recover or draw back the other, so that when the 
one arm is out from the body, ready to repel or attack, 
the other is quietly at rest, prompt to seize upon a 
chance for any mischief which may court attention. 

In laying down these rules for the position of the 
arms we have expressed ourselves in the simplest 
manner possible. Brevity is said to be the soul of wit. 
Whether it is or not, this we do know, that while 
teaching the science of sparring, we have invariably 
found that brevity of explanation and immediate prac- 
tical exemplification were the surest means of giving 
the pupil an accurate idea of that which is absolutely 
necessary. Here, of course, practical exemplification 
(sometimes it must be owned practically unpleasant to 
the pupil) is impossible, but by a reference to the 
figures given with tlie above rules, it will however be 
almost as easy for the willing learner to acquire 
thoroughly the elementary principles of the right posi- 
tion of the arms, when they are intended to be em- 
ployed, either as the means of attack, or as a mode of 
defence. 



I 



THE FEET 




'EXT to his arms, in their actual utility to the 
pupil his feet may be reckoned. But readers 
^ should be warned that Boxing is an essentially 
pugnacious calling. They must not therefore for a 
single moment suppose that a preceptor in the scientific 
art can be at all disposed to rank the power of running 
away, as one of the principal elements of this utility. 
Fleetness of foot might be an equivocal compliment 
when proffered as the leading one to a Boxer. Yet to 
a certain extent it is absolutely necessary, and should 
be cultivated, as celerity of motion is always an ad- 
vantage when weight, height, and science are equally 
balanced. It is, however, in the accurate poise of the 
body upon the feet, in the additional momentum which 
may be given to the force of a blow by momentarily 
shifting the centre of gravity, as well as rapidity in 
change of position, that the main value of the members 



24 THE FEET. 

consists, Otlierwise the " iiglitiiig upon liis stumps" as 
tlie Old Knight does in the ballad of Chevy Chase, if 
the legs were "hacked off," might not be disadvanta- 
geous, although, as far as the author is concerned, we 
consider it as very decidedly objectionable. Your 
position upon your feet, then, is an affair of paramount 
importance. No amount of skill in the management 
of your arms would in any way compensate for ignor- 
ance or carelessness in this respect. This the more 
especially as the rules for the position of the pupil are 
clear and easy of comprehension with reference to his 
feet. "When once learned, the practical advantage of 
them is so palpably obvious that they run no risk of 
being speedily or indeed ever forgotten- 
Let it therefore be impressed strongly upon all 
readers, that it is positively a matter of vital necessity 
that they should thoroughly comprehend and employ 
the rules which are here given them in as simple and 
condensed a form as practicable. 

The position to be assumed by amateurs must be 
taken as on opposite page. 

If you are accustomed to box with the left foot fore- 
most, which is generally considered preferable, and 
commonly adopted, the left foot must be placed in a 
direct line with your adversary ; the right heel must 
also be in a direct line with the line of your left foot. 



THE FEET. 25 

The distance between tiie two heels should be, as 
precisely as possible, thirteen inches, while the toe of 
the right foot should be placed as nearly as can be at 
an angle of forty-five degrees from a line supposed to be 
drawn between your left toe and heel, and your right 
heel. Two thirds of the weight of your body should 
be thrown upon your left footj which is supposed to be 




FIG- n. — PosrxioN of 



foremost. The reason for stating that so great a pro- 
portion of your weight should be thrown upon your 
left leg, is, to constitute it as much as practicable the 
centre of gravity of your body. 

The left leg should be nearly straight. It should not 
however be stiff in position. 

The right leg should be slightly bent, and the pro- 
portion of your weight which it bears should be 
thrown upon the ball of the foot. 

Your body should be turned about a quarter face 
from your adversary. 

This is in order that you should avoid making your 



26 THE FEET. 

body more of a target for the blows of jour opponent, 
tban you can rationally avoid. 

In moving your arms, remember tbat your body 
ought by the aid of your legs to move with them; and 
do not keep your feet in the same place, but move 
gently round your adversary, feeling for an opening 
to strike. 

If these rules appear somewhat minute to the reader, 
let him remember that without a good and well bal- 
anced position he loses not only half of his capacity to 
avoid, dodge, or ward off" an opponent's blow, but fully 
two thirds of his power in striking. This last depends 
not alone on his muscle, or the amount of knowledge he 
may possess of the use of his arms, but in a very great 
measure upon the ease, precision and strength of his 
attitude. In a word the leverage of his power depends 
upon his feet. We are sorry to differ so widely from 
the old school of Boxing, yet are willing to be termed 
radical in this case, as our position, practically speaking, 
is infinitely the better one; for instance, you must 
throw the centre of gravity on the left foot before your 
blow reaches your opponent ; then, if that is the case, 
why not have it there all the time, if only to give 
celerity to your motions, and at the same time relieve 
your right (in a measure) so that you may retreat with 
ease should necessity require it. 



THE FEET. 27 

Arcliimedes demanded a fulcrum for liis lever that 
lie might be able to move the world. Rightly using 
the leverage which nature has given him, the Boxer 
may not be able to emulate the Utopian wish of the 
Greek, but will at all events give a blow treble the 
weight, and with an impetus which he might not other- 
wise do. 

Such a result is, to say the least of it, extremely de- 
sirable. Therefore is it that we have laid so much stress 
upon the position of the legs and feet. Let the stu- 
dent in the physical science of Boxing by no means 
neglect to give it a corresponding attention. 



THE HEAD. 




MAN without a head, could by no possibility 
become a Boxer, The same negative would, 
be also implied by the absence of the arms, or 
a corresponding deficiency of any other member or 
members of the body. Such an implication, however, 
would have to be accepted with a wide difierence. 
Legs or arms may be and have been supplied by the 
surgical machinist. Perhaps the last of these may not 
at present be perfectly able to perform all the duties, 
demanded from the realities by the scientific Boxer, 
but in the continuous progress of all positive manufac- 
ture, we have no right to presume that its competency 
will be forever an imperfect one. Should it ever be 
perfected, the blow from an iron clenched hand, deliv- 
ered as it might be, would be so decidedly advan- 
tageous to the man who gave it, that if that point of 



THE HEAD. 29 

completion were readied in our time, we might not be 
unwilling to undergo amputation for tlie purpose of re- 
placing the amputated member with a much harder 
and more rapid hitter. 

"With the head it is decidedly different. The wildest 
vision of the most inventive genius, or the highest 
effort of mechanical ingenuity, can never succeed in 
supplying or replacing the loss of that most valuable 
member of the body. 

Therefore is it that we propound it as a positive ne- 
cessity that a Boxer has qu.ite as much necessity for a 
head as a pohtician. 

ISTay ! in nine cases out of ten, at the least, he has 
more. 

But for the eyes in that head he would be unable to 
detect the vulnerable points left open to him, by his ad- 
versary. ' He would be open to attacks, which, because 
unexpected, he would be unable to foil ; he would, in a 
word, be liable to continuous punishment, without the 
possibility (save by a fortuitous or chance blow,) of in 
any way returning it. 

But for the brain in that head, he would be unable to 
originate a mode of attack or conceive a plan of defence. 

For these reasons do we strongly recommend our 
pupils, as we advise our readers, to look after this very 
important organ. 



30 THE HEAD. 

The rules for its position are very simple. 

It should be well poised upon the body. Its posi- 
tion should neither be too rigidly nor too loosely main- 
tained, so that it may be rapidly thrown on either 
shoulder to avoid, if possible, a blow which may be 
wickedly auned at it, by an opponent who is disposed 
to close your eyes or to otherwise deface your frontis- 
piece. 

The chin should be inclined in, but not too much so 
— ^this inclination must be slight. 

The teeth should be closed firmly, but by no means 
too tightly. 

This, by the bye, is not only a physical but a mental 
necessity. How can you suppose any energy, be it 
physical or mental, in a man who keeps his mouth 
open, as if he were disposed to trap flies ? A man with 
an open mouth — not with one that opens occasionally, 
biit one that is open in grave circumstances : (and what 
circuip.stance can be more momentarily grave than a 
possibly proximate thrashing) is an' indubitable simple- 
ton. Let no simpleton imagine that he can become an 
accomplished Boxer. Brain is as necessary to pug- 
nacity in any shape as it is to pacific progress in life. 
Greneral Grrant and J. C. Heenan may be examples, 
widely different in position and degree, yet both of 
them (we state this fact with regard to the first simply 



THE HEAD. 31 

upon report, witli respect to the last upon intimate per- 
sonal knowledge,) may be considered tolerably well 
endowed with, brain. 

The eyes should not be too widely open. They 
should, however, as with the foils in fencing, be 
directly fastened upon those of your antagonist, with 
the purpose, if you are able to do so, of divining his 
plan of attack. Let the reader however be warned that 
the eye is often, too often, an unwittingly treacherous 
servant. As you may be able to divine his purpose, by 
observing the eyes of your adversary, it might happen 
that he would be able to divine yours. Therefore we 
would recommend you, as much as possible, to dis- 
charge all active expression from your eyes. An op- 
ponent of average skill and strength, can always, unless 
opposed to one much his superior, ward a blow success- 
fully which he supposes beforehand is about to be 
made. The direction of the blow you purpose should 
consequently never be evinced by the eye. 

The eye as much as possible should be one third 
closed, as a person can look steadily at an object for a 
much longer period thus, than with his eyes wide 
open. 



THE BODY. 




..44 

F the body there is much less that need be 
said than of either of the members that are 
attached to it. This is not on account of 
its not being an exceedingly necessary component por- 
tion of the animal structure of the Boxer. In fact it 
may be af&rmed to be an indispensable portion of the 
pugilistic figure. Like the Eegimental Sutler, it may 
be of little use when the actual fighting begins. Nev- 
ertheless it is a positive necessity to the man who 
boxes as is the Sutler to the Regiment that would 
fight. Perhaps it may provide nothing while it con- 
sumes everything. The Sutler, it is true, does provide 
something, bu.t generally contrives to consume much 
more. 

Unlike the Sutler of a regiment, however, who gen- 
erally contrives to keep out of the way of all fighting, 
the body of the Boxer is bound to be present in his 
society when hard blows are current. Very generally, 



THE BODY. 33 

also, it takes a number of them ; invariably so, when 
the members have not been trained to do their duty, 
without the capability of individually testifying its 
gratitude. 

Unfortunately, no advice can be given to the reader 
by which his body can avoid a blow. It has, however, 
been introduced to good allies in the shape of its own 
legs and arms, or at any rate, the method has been 
indicated to those members by which they may ally 
themselves with it in a manner as advantageous to 
themselves, as it can be to the body. Should they fail 
to profit by this advice, we can only say that their 
failure will be no fault of ours. Having explained to 
them their duties, or being about to do so, we shall 
leave the matter entirely to them and their interest. 
For it is manifestly their interest to save the body from 
being whipped, as they may perforce be dormant part- 
ners in its results, although during such whipping they 
may have been active partners. 

However, a little advice may be given to the body. 

In taking your position, the body should be placed 
in such a manner as not to render it irksome to the 
Boxer. In other words, the chest should be inclined 
the least particle forward, while as the arms move, the 
body should also sway with them, for the sake of 
easing the muscles of either leg. 



34 THE BODY. 

By paying attention to this, the body will to a cer- 
tain degree assist its members in tbeir work, and do 
something towards balancing the account between 
them ; an account, which, by the by, it may very ad- 
mirably adjust after the work is done. 



SPAKEOG. 




AYING laid down tlie foregoing rules in 
regard to the position of the limbs and gen- 
eral attitude of the Boxer, we now come to 
the practical part of the science. 

Few individuals are there to be met with, who know 
how to spar well and thoroughly. As few are there 
perhaps, who know how to write for publication. Per- 
fectly willing as we are to acknowledge our compara- 
tive inability as to the latter, it would be worse than 
mock modesty for us to profess an ignorance of the 
first. On the contrary, having some knowledge, as 
most Professors of science themselves admit, of spar- 
ring, it is believed that it can be placed intelligibly, in 
this little volume, before the mass of those who may 
believe their time will not be lost in teaching them- 
selves the practical utility of the muscle which nature 
has given them. 



36 SPAEEING. 

Should we be able to do so, they will in all legiti- 
mate cases be enabled to use it for self-protection, and 
in rarer ones, as we sincerely hope, for the punishment 
of others. Our endeavors will be mainly to simplify 
the science, so that the plainest intelligence may under- 
stand our meaning. 

In the rules already given for position, it is believed 
that we have succeeded, and that our readers are at 
present thoroughly conversant with its elements, as 
thoroughly as they could be after having had a series 
of personal lessons ; if so, they are now in a condition 
to learn the blows. 

There are only seven blows, which will be denoted 
by their numbers, as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. No 
doubt can exist that it will appear strange that there 
should be so few blows in the science of Boxing. But 
there are no more than seven notes in music. The 
palette on which the painter spreads his colors con- 
tains only seven. But of what a multitude of combi- 
nations are not tone and color susceptible. How 
numerous are the variations and hues which may be 
wrought out of each of them ; with what a skill can 
the painter and the musician blend them into harmony 
and tint. When the old Greeks gave their marble 
glories to the world, they were contented with three 
orders of architecture. The Romans afterwards added 



SPARRING. 37 

to tliese two bastard orders, the Tuscan and Compos- 
ite. It would be only fair to presume, that in those 
days, no budding architect grumbled about the poverty 
of architecture, although afterwards the Norman and 
Gothic styles were added. But how infinitely have 
these orders and styles been modified ! How incongru- 
ously in some cases, and how grandly and exquisitely 
in others. 

Why then should you consider it strange that Box- 
ing has no greater variety ? 

In practice you will find that the science must, as all 
other sciences do, complicate itself. But simplicity is 
the primary motive. The man who can be most 
thoroughly simple from knowledge, is the only man 
who can complicate with safety. Bear this in mind in 
everything you study ; politics, war, boxing, or any of 
the thousand arts or sciences of peace. Moreover, the 
reader will be shown in the following pages, that these 
seven blows will command all the vulnerable parts of 
the body, pre-supposing that they are not parried. 
Our present bu.siness, however, is how to strike out 
and not how to ward. 



BLOW NUMBER ONE. 




'HIS blow is more generally employed tlian 
any other. Therefore we shall endeavor to 
be very plain in the description of it, and 
desire the reader to give this his close attention. 

It is struck at the right side of the face, with the left 
hand. 

The nose being the centre of the face, the range of 
the effect of this blow extends over the whole of its 
right from the eye and nose as far as the right ear. 

To deliver this blow with anything like effect, yon 
must keep yourself cool. Determination is always 
cool. Your opportunity must not be anticipated. It 
must be watched and waited for. In nine cases out 
of ten, patience when allied to a fair proportion of sci- 
ence is a great Boxer. Eemember that in no case 
should your hand be delivered at random. This can, 
by no possibility, be of the slightest advantage to you ; 



I 



BLOW NUMBER ONE. 



39 



on the contrary, it must waste your strengtli. Conse- 
quently, if persisted in, it is certain to result ultimately 
in rendering you up an easy prey to a percliance 
feebler, but more wily and astute opponent. 

When you are sparring, and intend to deliver this 
blow, you must wait until you consider that you have 
got in distance. When satisfied of this, throw the 




PIG. nl.— BLOW NUMBEE ONE. 



whole weight of your body upon your left foot Then, 
as quick as . you possibly can do so, (think of the 
Yankee's pet idea of the "greased flash of lightning," 



40 13L0W miMBER ONE. 

and tiy to emulate its rapidity; dart out your left 
liand, in tlie manner shown in the cut, riglit upon your 
opponent's face. 

"Whether parried or not, your position must be re- 
covered as speedily as possible. 

Should it chance that this blow should not be par- 
ried by your antagonist, and if you have calculated 
your position rightly, you will generally iind it a 
highly satisfactory one. It will also, in ordinary cases, 
impress his mind with a profound, and to yourself most 
gratifying respect for your capability as a tolerable 
sure and hard hitter.* 



* Says a writer on this subject, "Eemember that there are two 
golden rules for a Boxer, namely : hit straight and keep your tem- 
per. Fail in either of these requisites, and you wiU pi'obably come 
off second best ; fail in both, and you will certainly do so. Listen 
to an account of a battle where strength and weight and anger were 
overmatched by skiU and coolness : — ■' As the assailant rushed in he 
ran a prominent feature of his face against a fist which was travel- 
ling in another direction, and immediately after struck the knuckles 
of the young man's other fist a severe blow with the part of his 
person known as the epigastrium to one branch of science, and the 
bread-basket to another. This second round closed the battle.' So 
we say again, keep your temper and hit straight. You see a circular 
blow takes more time to deliver than a straight one, and if your 
opponent swings his arm round at you, while you dart out your own 
fist at him, your blow will have taken effect long before his clumsy 
attempt has completed its journey." 



BLOW NUMBER TWO. 




HIS is precisely the same blow as the last 
one, save that it is delivered with the right 
hand on the left side of the face. 
Owing to the necessarily greater change in position 
in giving it, the manner of its delivery is widely differ- 
ent. Neither can it be given as a leading blow, as 
blow Number One can be. This is for the simple rea- 
son, that as the position of the body and legs throw 
the left side forward, the right arm is made some six 
inches shorter than the left in its reach. Hence, you 
invariably lead off with your left, and follow it, if a 
chance is afforded you for doing so, with your right 
hand- 
In making this blow, you must of necessity turn your 
body, bringing it to a full front towards your adversary. 
Your right shoulder must be raised, so as to draw 



42 



BLOW NUMBER TWO. 



your right hand on the same horizontal line with it, 
about three inches from the nipple of the right breast 
Then looking at your man steadily, your right hand 
must be darted out directly at the left side of your 
opponent's faca 




FIG. IV.— BLOW NTJMBEB TWO. 



At the same time your left hand must be drawn 
back, so that should you find it desirable, you may 
repeat the operation. 



BLOW NUMBER TWO. 43 

At a cross-counter or in fibbing, the right hand is 
the more destructive of the two ; this arises from the 
greater precision and strength which that hand, arm 
and shoulder generally possess. Here, however, I shall 
not pause to explain the cross-counter or fibbing, as it 
is my desire to bring the blows before you in rotation, 
and to make you clearly understand the parts they are 
aimed at, their mode of delivery, and their effect. In 
the action of giving this blow, your right leg should be 
bent forward. Your right knee has also to be brought 
nearly upon a level with your left one. The heel of 
your right foot has also to be raised from the ground, 
and the whole force of your spring will be conse- 
quently centered in your right toe. If the advice 
which we have given in the description of Blow Number 
One, respecting the waiting and watching an opportu- 
nity for your delivery, is not here repeated, it is be- 
cause, in nine cases out of ten, the inculcation of pa- 
tience, by precept, is worse than useless ; it has to be 
acquired by practice. One failure and its results 
would do more to imprint its necessity upon a student 
of the art of self-defence, than any amount of exhorta- 
tion. Eules may be taught by inculcation, but qual- 
ities of mind trenching in any degree upon experience 
must be practically acquired. In a word, the knuckles 
of an adversary, if effectually tried as a rebuke to your 



44 BLOW NUMBER TWO. 

impatience, would do far more to imprint the necessity 
of its converse upon your memory than any amount of 
verbal lecturing. You will be a lucky man, if you 
manage to escape so forcible a means of being taught 
physically the value of patience. 



BLOW NUMBER THREE. 




sHIS blow is aimed at a lower portion of the 
human figure, being intended to take effect on 
the pit of the stomach, and is delivered with 
the left hand. In executing this blow, you should 
appear to be sparring with an intention of giving blow 
Number One. Instead of making the last mentioned 
blow, you should, however, rise on, or spring with your 
right foot with such an impetus as to throw the whole of 
your weight upon the ball of your left foot, at the same 
time darting your arm in a downward direction at its 
mark, the pit of the stomach. You should assist your 
left hand in making this blow, by the management of 
your right. It should be thrown out about two thirds 
of its length. This must not, however, be in a direct 
line, but across the body, slanting in such a way that it 
would range about six inches directly above the left 
wrist. Your right elbow being elevated to a level with 
your mouth, with the muscular side of the arm turned 



46 



BLOW NUMBER THEEE. 

The object of this will be 



towards your antagonist, 
readily apparent. 

It is an effective ward against any blow which might 
be aimed at your face by your adversary. It would be 
needless to say that whether you make an effective 




FIG. v.— BLOW N0MBEB 



blow or not your position should be rapidly recovered. 
If effectively and strongly delivered, this blow will be 
a decided teazer. 



BLOT/ NUMBER FOUR. 




felS blow is given with the right hand, and 
should be directed at the left side of your op- 
ponent's ribs. 

When well put in, it is a terrific one, and when 
given with your full strength, in a serious contest, may 
decide the event of a battle. In any case, if it be fairly 
delivered, there can be no doubt of its seriously em- 
barrassing your adversary. 

To make this blow, after sparring for an opening, 
your left hand should be thrown out with tolerable 
strength, as if you purposed delivering Blow Number 
One. This will naturally cause your adversary to 
throw up his guard. When you are making this feint, 
your right hand should be well drawn up ; then swing 
around with your whole force, letting your body go 
with it, to lend all its weight to the blow as in Figure 
Number VI. In the action of striking, your left arm 
should be extended level with your face, being bent at 



48 



BLOW NUMBEE FOUR. 



the elbow, to a right angle, with the muscular part of it 
turned outwards. 

This is for the exceedingly sensible purpose of parry- 
ing a simultaneous blow at your face from your 
adversary, or guarding against the possibility of a 
return, which he might not unreasonably be disposed 
to favor you with, in the event of your blow being a 




FIG. YI. — BLOW NUMBEIl FOUE. 



failure either in strength or reach. As nothing in this 
world is certain, as " L'homme propose et Dieu 
you ought to be prepared for all chances. 



BLOW NUMBEE FOUE. 49 

Prudence is, to the full, as great an element of suc- 
cess as patience. Therefore when intending to reach 
your opponent's ribs, take a special care of your own 
eyes and nose. 

A rapid recovery of your j^osition, after the attempt 
or success of this blow, is absolutely necessary. 
3 



BLOW NUMBER FIVE. 

j^ir blow is a precise duplicate of the preceding 

^^^^ one, only given with the left hand, upon the 

^ r right side of your antagonist. Being an awk- 
ward blow, it is rarely much practised by men who are 
well versed in the science of Boxing; although we 
have occasionally seen it delivered with thorough and 
telling effect, and might, possibly, at a peculiar mo- 
ment, be induced to administer it. We are all of 
us more or less subject to temptation. An inviting 
chance might open upon us. It is perfectly absurd to 
refuse availing one's self of it. 

As in the preceding blow, you spar for an oppor- 
tunity ; should you have determined upon trying it, 
when it comes you seize it, and swing out your arm 
half round. This blow must be given with your 
hand in such a position that your thumb will be up- 
permost. 

The hand must also be slightly bent at the wrist, so 



BLOW NUMBER FIVE. 51 

that your knuckles may be brought to lear upon your 
adversary's ribs with good effect 

Your right arm should be thrown up level with your 
face, bent at a right angle from the elbow, for a similar 
purpose to that which the left arm fulfils in Blow 
Number Four. 




Fia. TII.— BLOW NmtBEB FIVE. 



Should we by any chance be induced to employ this 
blow, it would almost invariably be as a counter, (the 
mode in which we have hitherto used it,) that is as a 
return for the attempt led off by our opponent, with his 



52 BLOW NUMBER FIYE. 

left hand at^ur face. Even tlien it would be a species 
of mongrel, crossed between blows Number Three and 
this one, and could scarcely lay claim to the number 
given it in its genuine character. 

After this, as in the preceding blows, the position 
must be at once recovered. 



Blow NUMBER SIX. 




I HIS blow is struck directly at the centre of the 
face, commanding the chin, throat, nose, and 
both eyes. 

It is delivered with the left hand, and may be con- 
sidered in most cases a delightful blow, when instead 
of being the recipient, you administer it. 

In giving this blow, you ought to raise yourself 
upon the balls of both feet, at the moment in which 
you dart out your left hand. 

Your right arm should be thrown across your body, 
to guard yourself as you are striking, while your right 
hand should be raised some four inches from and 
above your shoulder. 

This blow is very effective, although by no means 
so generally employed as Blow Number One. In 
some cases it might, however, be preferable. 

Indeed, each particular blow will be, at times, a 



54 



BLOW NUMBEB SIX. 



highly advisable delivery, whatever may be its relative 
excellence when compared with others. 




FIG. Vin.— BLOW NUMBER SIX. 



As after the preceding blows, so, after your attempt 
to administer this one, it is scarcely necessary to say 
that yonr position should at once be recovered. 



BLOW NUMBER SEVEN. 




I HE seventli and last blow is an upper cut witli 
tlie riglit hand. This is seldom or never given 
as a leading or principal blow, but is mostly 
delivered when your opponent has led off with his 
left hand- In giving this blow, Ms body is of neces- 
sity thrown forward and he is thus left open for retal- 
iation, which by this means you may administer to his 
great personal discomfort, and with a decided advan- 
tage to yourself 

To give this blow properly, you ought not, should it 
be possible to avoid it, to drop your hand behind, or on 
a level with your hip. Your right hand should never 
sink so low as this. 

"When you have any intention of availing yourself of 
this return, wait until you see your opportunity, and 
then draw back your elbow as far as you can, some- 
what sinking your right hand. 



56 



BLOW mrMBER SEYEN. 



In giving tMs blow, jour wliole strength must be 
thrown into your arm and shoulder, and you must 
strike out with a semicircular motion upwards, making 
the face of your antagonist the focus of your blow. 
We need again scarcely impress upon you, that your 
recovery of position should be as prompt as possible. 

It may be observed by the reader that we have in 




FIG. is:,.^BLow KtrsnsEE seves. 



every case insisted upon the necessity of an immediate 
recovery of the primary position. You must sooner or 
later learn to appreciate this paramount necessity. 



BLOW NUlilBER SEVEN. 57 

Otherwise the propriety of doing so, may be practically 
imprinted upon your mental faculties by the unpleasant 
physical results consequent upon a neglect in this 
respect Good generalship in struggles of every kind 
must follow the one rule of guarding against every 
means of attack. It is not enough to be able to put in 
a telUng and vigorous blow, unless you can prevent an 
immediate retaliation which might by some unforeseen 
chance be even more telling and vigorous. Should it 
be so, the result of your successful blow might be a 
severe personal punishment, Fabius Cunctator, also 
called Fabius Maximus, the Roman Consul who beat 
the Carthaginians, may be cited as a grand example of 
the results of caution and preparation. 

Had the Romans in this time possessed newspapers, 
we feel convinced that the war correspondents of the 
day would have left him no peace in life, always pro- 
vided he cared for the pin-pricking of journalistic 
abuse. Fortunately for him, he probably knew noth- 
ing of what was said of his proceedings until he had 
finished his work. 

. Hoping we have thus laid down the offensive 
means of operating upon an adversary, more clearly 
than any professor of sparring has done up to the pres- 
ent time, we now come to the mode of defence, or of 
parrying and warding off blows. This, let us observe, 
3* 



58 BLOW NUMBER SEVEN. 

is quite as necessary to study as that for -which we 
have abeady given the rules. You have to damage an 
adversary, and also to take care of your own face and 
body. The last is quite as important a part of the 
study of the scientiflc art as the first 



PARRYmCx 




F you wisli to pariy a blow effectually, first 
know what your opponent is about to do. 
Tbis is a paramount necessity. For tbis pur- 
pose your eyes sbould be fixed upon bis, witb tbe ob- 
ject of divining bis intentions. It will be no use to 
look at bis bands or bis sboulders. His bead deter- 
mines wbat be means to do. His eyes may or may 
not be early tell-tales, but sooner or later you will be 
able to form a sbrewd guess at bis purposes, from tbe 
pemstent endeavor to read tbem, A bard rap or two 
you may encounter unexpectedly in your searcb after 
knowledge. Tbis, you will find all tbe better. Your 
brain will be practically cultivated, and practical culti- 
vation is one of tbe few tbings tbat man never forgets, 
wbile be. retains any degree of mental and pbysical 
power. Having given you tbis bit of preparatory ad- 



60 



vice, we shall endeavor to describe the parries as 
plainly as we have done the blows. 

As there are seven blows, so there are seven corres- 
ponding parries, although some few of them have varia- 
tions which will be pointed out as we come to them. 



I 



PARRY NUMBER ONE. 




N this parry your right arm sliould be thrown 
upward and outward. 




FIG. X.--PABEX NUMBER ONE, 



By this action you will catch the arm of your oppo- 
nent with the inside of your wrist 



tj*^ PARRY NUMBER ONE. 

This must not be done witb. a violent jerk, although 
it sliould be effected so qnickly tbat wben you catch 
his arm the motion should be continued in a semi- 
circle. By doing this, his arm is thrown from its 
direction or point of aim. 

As soon as the parry is effected, let your arm return 
to its natural guard, or in a word, let your primary po- 
sition be resumed as rapidly as possible. Let us also 
impress it upon the mind of the reader, as we invariably 
endeavor to do upon those of our pupils, never, if 
possible, to catch a blow upon the arm. Such a parry 
must necessarily cause an injury to the part receiving 
the blow, and may not improbably render it less capa- 
ble for administering future punishment. 



PAERY NUMBER TWO. 




IHIS pariy is a siinilar one to the first which I 
have described. 

It is effected, however, with the left arm, and 
parries the blow given with the right hand. 




HG. XL— PABET NUMBEE TWO. 



64 PARRY NUMBER TWO. 

As tiie left arm is more in advance of you tlian your 
riglit one, the inside, or muscular portion of it, should 
be turned towards your opponent, catching his arm on 
your wrist in the same manner as in the precediag 
parry. 

Then throw his arm from its point of aim, and imme- 
diately return to your position. 



I 



PARRY NUMBER THREE. 




IHIS parry is a guard for tlie pit of tlie stomacli, 
and may be effected in tliree different ways. It 
^ would be needless to say that I leave tlie choice 
of tlie manner to your own discretion and ability. 

Firstly, you may effect it by dropping your right arm 
with sufficient force, speed and adroitness. By this 
means your wrist will break down the blow, and your 
adversary will find it difficult immediately to recover 
his position, which may enable you very satisfactorily 
to imprint upon his person and memory the necessity 
of more discretion in his delivery. 

Secondly, the blow may be rendered useless to your 
opponent, by a rapidly retsogressive step while you 
parry it with a similar action, with your left arm. 

Thirdly, should you entertain a strong desire for 
immediate and effective retaliation, you may drop your 
right arm so that it shall be nearly at right angles 
across and in advance of the pit of your stomach. At 



bb PARRY NUMBER THREE. 

the same time, while you are in the action of receiving 
the blow, bend your knees a trifle forward, and swing 
your body half round towards the left, drawing your 
left hand up to your left shoulder. 

This will cause your antagonist's blow to glide harm- 
lessly from you to the left, while it will bring his face 
in a direct line with your left hand. Feeling that we 
need scarcely explain the purpose for which it may be 




FIG. Xn.— PAERY NtTMBER THREE. 



used by an apt pupil, we leave it to that desire 
which, we have not unnaturally presumed, you may 
entertain, to dictate the employment you may put it to. 



PARRY NUMBER FOUR. 




fmS is a difficult parrj to accomplish neatly 
and satisfactorily, from a blow whicli we have 
always had a most decided objection to receiv- 
ing either upon the arm or on the body. 

Endeavor to recede from the blow by a sudden 
movement, if you can possibly do so. Eecession, in 
this case, would not be cowardice. The truth is that 
this kind of recession is desirable from every blow 
which may be aimed at you, but more especially is it 
desirable from this one. 

To stop the blow for which this parry is intended, 
your left arm must be dropped on your left side, your 
elbow should be a trifle back from your hip, the fore- 
arm being raised to an angle of forty-five degrees. Or 
the blow may be parried by a rapid downward and out- 
ward movement of your left arm, catching your oppo- 



68 PAERY NUMBER FOUR. 

nent's wrist with the inside of jours, and. throwing it 
off from you as in cut Number Four. 

In the battle between Harry Broome and Harry 
Orme, Broome was very nearly defeated by the blow to 
which this is the necessary parry. It completely 
doubled him up, and for a round or two after receiving 




riQ. Xm. — PAHBY NXTMBEa FOUB. 



it, he looked decidedly serious. Jemmy Massey made 
an especial favorite of this blow, and won the greater 
number of his battles by its judicious application. 



PARRY NUMBER HVE. 




'his parry is for the purpose of warding tlie 
similar blow on the opposite side of the body. 
It is much more easily effected. To do it, 
your right arm must be dropped down sharply with a 
semi-circular motion from the left breast to the right 
hip. 

At the same time it would be quite as well to 
draw your left hand up to the shoulder, as you may 
possibly be tempted to reciprocate the complimentary 
attention of your adversary. 

Be careful in your parry that it be not too rapid ; 
for should it be so, you might meet with a decided 
faili.re, and expose you to a singularly unpleasant re- 
ception of the consequences of your too great haste. 
Indeed, we would seriously impress it upon the mind 
of the reader, that too great haste in parrying is as fatal 



70 PARRY NUMBER FIVE. 

an error, as too little speed in striking. Begin slowly 
in practising both blows and parries. Tbe necessary 
promptness in either will be the result of practice when 




FIG. XrV. — FABRY NUMBEB FIVE. 



you thoroughly understand the intention of the blow, 
and the necessity of the parry. 



PARRY mmm six. 




HIS parry is designed to guard the centre of 
the face from the blow with your adversary's 
left hand. 




FIG. XV. — PARKY NUMBER SIX. 



It is very often effected with either arm. This, how- 
ever, is a mode of parrying the blow, which is more 



72 PAEBT NUMBER SIX. 

ordinarily employed by skillful professors in the art of 
self-defence ; and as the legitimate parry is simple as 
well as effective, it is requisite that you should 
thoroughly understand it 

Your right arm should be thrown up in a horizontal 
position, parallel or level with your chin, while your 
left arm should be laid upon the top of your right, with 
its muscular position turned outward, as in Figure 
Eleven. 



PARRY NUMBER SEVEN. 




(his is the upper cut parry. 
The left arm must be raised at the elbow, to 
very nearly the level of the shoulder, with the 
fore-arm lying at right angles across the body, some 
six or seven inches from the breast 

Your right arm should be laid within the line of 
your left. 

By this means the upper cut will be caught on the 
muscular portion of both your arms. Let us, in con- 
cluding this portion of our treatise on the art of pro- 
tecting yourself and punishing your opponent with the 
weapons which nature has given you, urge you to 
remember that it is even more desirable to learn how to 
parry, than to strike efficiently. All men who are not 
totally deficient in courage, can strike tolerably well. 
Always presupposing that they have muscle, any blow 
delivered straight forward with an adequate amount of 



74 



PAEEY NUMBER SEVEN. 



momentum, and a fair proportion of pluck, will, should 
it take effect, be productive of considerable incon- 
venience to the individual who may receive it. To 
dispense with the reception, however, of any blow, is a 
totally different matter. For this, whoever may be 
the assailant, whether he be skillful or not in hard 




FIQ. XVI. — PARE1 NUMBER SEVEN. 



hitting — whether he can fight a stand-up battle or is 
only addicted to skirmishing — some amount of ac- 
quired knowledge, (and the more the better) is abso- 
lutely necessary. 



PARBY NUMBER SEVEN. 75 

Think well, then, of this. Remember that Hannibal 
struck hard, Scipio parried well, Marius had any 
amount of dash, but Sjlla was notorious for his cau- 
tion. Francis the First was a perfect master in his 
attack, but Charles the Fifth was literally sublime in 
his style of dodging a hard blow ; or, to come down to 
later times, while Napoleon the First was a smashing 
hitter, Wellington knew both how to ward, and to take 
his time for striking out. With such illustrious sam- 
ples of prudence, which might be multiplied to almost 
any extent, it would seem that further instructions 
would be not merely a waste of time, but an insult to 
the reader, whom we naturally conclude not to be desti- 
tute of brain. Let us therefore conclude this branch 
of the subject 



FIBBING 




fHIS is effected with, one, or rather with both 
of your hands, and as a fanciful, although by 
no means elegant mode of punishment, is 
entitled to a pleasant consideration by the practical 
Boxer. 

Soyer, or some other great cook, enjoined as a 
preliminary to skinning your eel, " first catch him ;" 
we would bid our reader first to get in close to his 
opponent ; indeed as close as possible. After achieving 
this indispensable necessity, then catch him round the 
neck with, one arm, forming a kind of hook with your 
arm and hand. This should be the left arm. After 
securing his head in this position you may pound 
away upon it very pleasantly, with the other occasion- 
ally changing. 

It will be altogether needless to say that we are 
referring more particularly to your pleasure, than that 
which your opponent may enjoy during the operation ; 
as singularly enough this affectionate fashion of bestow- 



FIBBING. 77 

ing your favors, seems scarcely so agreeable to tlie 
recipient as it may be to yourself. In spite of bis 
dislike, tbis may bowever be persisted in, eitber in tbe 
Prize Eing, or in a personal " scrimmage," wbenever 
you bave an opportunity for paying bim sucb a delicate 
attention. If bandsomely done, it will by no means 
improve "bis beauty, as it is tolerably certain to impair 
bis temper. 



THE CROSS-COUNTER MD FIBBING. 




' iw ^ ^^' however, necessary, in pointing out the 
various means of effectually annoying an 
adversary or taking care of yourself, to allude 
to two of the former which have not been previously 
noticed. These are the Cross-Counter and Fibbing; 
the last of which is very frequently practiced in the 
Prize-Ring, and may occasionally, in a close row, not 
be a disadvantageous accomplishment to the amateur 
Boxer. 

CROSS-COUNTER WITH THE RIGHT, 

This blow is a very effective' one, although it may 
scarcely be reckoned among the seven principal blows. 
It nevertheless possesses many advantages, and de- 
serves thorough and careful study, as it puzzles a left 
handed sparrer considerably. He is unable to strike 
you with his left hand without insuring himself a re- 
turn. 



THE CEOSS-COUNTER AKD FIBBING. 79 

This return must have nearly double the force of 
his blow. The reason of this is, that by executing this 
blow properly, you will cause his left hand in blow 
Kumber One to pass over your right shoulder, while 
your right hand leaves its undoubted mark either 
upon his neck, or the side of his face. 

To deliver this blow properly, you must be in no 
hurry to strike out, but wait until your adversary has 
done so. On the instant that you see his blow coming, 
throw the whole of your weight upon your left foot ; 
bring your right hand up to your right shoulder, and 
drop your head a little to the left. Your blow must be 
thrown outside his, but cross over it. 

By this means it will catch him upon the side of the 
face. 

This blow may be given with the right hand on the 
side of the ribs, instead of the side of the face ; but in 
this case it would be a hybrid between blow Number 
Four and a Counter, Still, like the genuine counter it is 
a remarkably uncomfortable blow, and has checked the 
ambition of many an aspiring youth, convincing him 
more thoroughly than the most sagacious argument 
you could advance, that boxing cannot be entirely 
mastered in a day ; that the philosophy of a Hamlet is 
not invariably that of a Horatio ; and that a counter 
may count unpleasantly against him upon the winning 



80 THE CROSS-COUNTER AND FIBBING. 

side. It would be annecessary to point out that a 
cross-counter witli tlie left liand is almost identical 
witli that with the right hand, although scarcely so 
efficacious a blow, and for this reason by no means so 
desirable. 






GETTOG THE HEAD IN CHANCERY. 




I 



rOUBTLESS the reader may smile at the heading 
of this page, but permit us to state that should 
he ever find his own head in this beautiful 
position, he may find the laugh tm-ned against him. 
If the reader doubts this, we would suggest that he get 
somebody already initiated to administer it to him, and 
if he does not find the result as above stated, we are 
greatly mistaken. There are two ways of performing 
this serious and oft-times finishing embrace to your 
enemy. The first of which is in more general use, and 
is given in the following manner. For illustration we 
shall use the left arm. You seize your adversary 
round the neck, with your left arm thrown over his 
right shoulder, which position brings you both facing 
the same way ; having accomplished this, swing your- 
self round to the right, and stepping from your op- 
ponent at the same time with your right foot, bear him 
down by the neck till his head is on a level with your 



GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY. 



heart. Then either grasp your l^ft wrist with your 
right hand and compress your hold with all your 
might ; or if you think you can hold him tight with 
the left arm alone, do so and strike away at the unpro- 
tected face that presents itself to you. 




i 



FIG. XVn. — CHANCEBX. 



The second of these chancery suits, was a great 
favorite with John C. Heenan, and practiced with 
telling effect in his pugilistic encounter with Thomas 
Sayers at their great international fight at Farns- 
boroTigh, and which would have terminated with the 
life of Sir Thomas, if the referee had not compelled 



GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY. 



83 



Heenan to desist We are also informed that Bill liad 
Sullivan in this position, which would undoubtedly 
have gained him the prize^ had not Sullivan persuaded 
him to let go, saying *he would give in ; and then he 
'.knocked Bill down for his simplicity. This second 
method of catching a man was also a specialty of your 
humble servant. We give it here as we furnished a 
description of it in a letter to a friend : 




no. XVm.— CHANCERY. 



" At any time that I was at close quarters with an 
antagonist, and had led off with the left, which having 
missed its mark, and my left arm going over the left 



84 GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY. 

shoulder of mj adversary, I "vvould avail myself of that 
opportunity to throw it backwards round his neck, at 
the same moment throwing the whole weight of my 
"body upon him. till I brought his head down to his 
left hip ; then I would grasp my left arm at the wrist 
and lift my friend from the ground, making his head 
my fulcrum. Thus throwing the whole weight of my 
opponent upon his neck, which is the next thing to 
hanging a man," 



\ 



GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANCERY. 




HE reader will have more cause to smile if he 
succeeds in the heading of this, than being the 
recipient of the success of the last chapter. To 




FIGtrEE XIX .— CHANCEHT. 



be able to extricate yourself from any difficulty, no mat- 
ter in which way it may occur, is highly gratifying, but 



86 



GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANOEBY. 



more especially so when your head is in a vice, and you 
are in danger of strangulation. Therefore, having shown 
you how it is possible for a man to get into danger, we 
must of course, to the best of our ability, endeavor 




FIG. XX. — CHANCERY. 

to instruct him how to get out of it. The best, and we 
think the only effective counteraction to the first of 
these chancery difficulties, is to throw your right arm 
across and over his left shoulder, bringing the palm of 
your hand to the front of his face, and then press his 
head back with all your power, {See Fig. xix.), which 
if you succeed in doing in time, that is to say before he 



GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANCERY. 87 

has you thoroughly in his power, you will not only 
accomplish your release from his ugly gripe, but will 
completely turn the tables upon your opponent, and 
perhaps give him a severe back fall. 

We know of no positive method to counteract this 
terrific serpent-like embrace, when fally completed, yet 
have known the following effort to succeed when 
strength of limb and power of action have totally 
failed. The manner of performing this is easy of 
explanation and will occupy but a few words. 

Turn to the instruction plate of this part, and you 
will see that by throwing up your left hand you can 
feel for the face of your adversary ; then pass the palm 
of your hand against his nose, pushing it upward 
and backward. {See Fig. xx.) 

Now we all know that the proboscis is a very sen- 
sitive organ, and the pain that this pressing will 
naturally give, will cause his head to give way, and 
probably will either make him break his hold or fall 
backward to the ground. 



WEESTLHG AS ACCESSORY TO BOXING. 



EESTLING is another, and in fact a very 
^ important brancli of science, and for scientific 
purposes consists of " Side-falls," " Back-falls," and 
" Cross-buttocks." The latter is most generally in use, 
and is one of the most dangerous falls that can be 
given, and one from which splendid results oft-times 
follow. We shall commence with " Back-falls," and 
bring the others in rotation. We could cite number- 
less cases where men have been placed hors de combat 
by receiving the slightest possible fall. We seriously 
advocate its use wherever practicable. In preparing 
to give this fall watch your opportunity, and when 
about to close with your adversary, rush in and throw 
your left arm well round your opponent's waist. 
Your right arm should be thrown out at right angles, 
passing under the chin, your right hand resting near 
your enemy's right shoulder. The elbow should be 
parallel to it on the other side of the neck. Twist 



V/BESTLING AS ACCESSORY TO BOXING. 89 

joTir left foot round lais right leg about the ankle, and 
try to lift it from under Mm and towards you while 




FIG. XKI. — BACE-FAIi. 



at the same time you pull towards you with your left 
arm, and push from you with all your might with 
your right arm and chest, and throw down your 
adversary if you possibly can. If you find you cannot 
accomplish it, break away from him immediately and 
regain your position at once. The manner in which we 
have described this fall may be varied according to the 
custom or the capacity of the practicer. For instance, 
if the pupil can accomplish it better and more naturally 



90 WEESTLING AS ACCESSORY TO B0XIN3, 

by having the right arm under, and twisting the right 
leg under his belhcose friend, or in fact by a total 
reversion of this method, then in the name of the 
classic hero of the olden time, the great Achilles, let 
him do it, and let it be understood that in either of the 
other throws that we are about to explain, the same 
idea or plan is to be carried out 



SIDE-FALLS. 



, ,^-,^ N order to give the side-fall with effect, it, "will 

W^ be necessary for the pupil to practice with 

^■'•^ some friend. In fact all the exercises laid 

down in the book conld be much more promptly 

learned if assisted by another pupil, and as each gained 




via. xxrt.— siDE-PAii. 



an idea he could impart it to the other. We would 
also state, that this fall is invariably given when the 



92 SIDE-FALLS. 

contending parties are m the act of " Fibbing," i. e. 
figliting in close quarters. Therefore, watching your 
opportunity when you are in a similar position, drop 
your right shoulder under his left arm-pit, throwing 
your right arm well around his waist, passing your 
right leg to its farthest extent across and behind him. 
Then, by a sudden lifting motion of the right arm, 
assisted by the right knee, raise your opponent off the 
ground, raise your knee as high as you can, then drop 
your arm and let your adversary fall backward to the 
ground, leaving it to your own judgment whether you 
fall heavily with him or not. 



CROSS-BUTTOCXS. 




HIS fall, as tlie preceding ones, is invariably 
practised in close fighting, supposing the pupil 
in position, watching an opportunity, which 




FIG. XXm. — CKOSS-BTTTTOOKS. — SIDE VTBW. 

as soon as he thinks he has gained, he rushes in 
throwing his right arm round his opponent's neck. 
Having accomplished this, by a sudden motion of 



94 



CEOSS-BUTTOCKS. 



tlie bod J he swings aroiind, turning his adversary across 
his hips, and then by a sudden jerk dashes him to the 
ground. 

We will close our remarks upon the subject of blows 
and falls, by simply observing that it has been our 
invariable practice, either when sparring with the 
gloves or the bare fists, not to have any particular line 
of action or specific rule for our guidance, but to 
endeavor to circumvent the powers of the adversary 




FIG. XXIV. — OROSS-BUTTOCKS. — FRONT VIEW. 

and seize upon any opening that might occur. "We 
would earnestly recommend that our readers should 
never make any particular "Blow or Fall" their 
specialty when practicing, but be ready for any 
opportunity that presents itself of delivering the one 



CROSS-BUTTOCKS. 95 

or giving the other. There are numberless cases where 
men have totally exhausted themselves by futile 
endeavors to throw down their antagonists by main 
strength, turning this way, straggling that, all the time 
weakening their own physical system, instead of pre- 
serving it as long as they possibly could. Therefore, 
if you get into close quarters with any one, and find 
you cannot throw him, break away immediately and 
essay some other manoeuvre ; or defer the fall until a 
better opportunity shall occur. 



"STRIKING THE BAG." 




^LTHOUGH we shall use the Bag as an adjunct 
to training, yet not wishing to diverge from 
the subject when we mention it in our illustrations of 
exercises, we have thought it best to devote a special 
chapter to its explanation. 

" Strilcing the Bag" is a very important acquisition to 
training. It teaches a person to stand erect, how to 
balance himself, and to acquire that graceful and easy 
motion of delivery, without which no one could by any 
possibility be termed a scientific Boxer. It is uni- 
versally called a Sand-Bag. Nothing could be more 
erroneous, which anybody would find out were he to 
practice on one so filled. Therefore, let the student 
provide himself with a bag about three feet long, with 
a capacity of two bushels ; fasten a stick across the top 
of it so as each end will project over the side of the 
bag, to which ends attach a couple of ropes fastened to 
a beam, or, what is still better, to two trees, as the last 
method will teach how to become used to manoeuvring 



STPJKING THE BAG. 97 

on terra Jirma. The bag should be suspended in 
such a manner that the bottom of it will reach down 
about twelve inches below the level of the chin. And 
now, presupposing the pupil has got his sack fixed in 
its proper position, and that he is ready for the 
exercise, let him spar at it as though it were a real 
antagonist he had facing him. Strike out with the left 
hand with fall force, and as straight as you possibly 
can, as though you were delivering Blow Number Six. 
Recover yourself, and on the bag's retiim meet it with 
your right and drive it from you. Strike thus alter- 
nately with either hand till you think you have 
received sufficient exercise. 

The bag is an excellent practice to teach a man the 
use of both hands with great precision and effective- 
ness ; a desideratum which is very much neglected by 
even professors, who think that one good punishing 
hand is all that is necessary. "We have found two 
hands oft-times little enough, and have actually known 
instances where we could have given active employ- 
ment to half a dozen. 

"We had nearly forgotten to state that the bag should 
contain about three-quarters of a bushel of oats, and 
the rest of the bag filled with hay. 



INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING. 




T must not be for a moment supposed that 
training for a personal encounter, or the science 
of Boxing, had its origin with Figg, Slack, or 
Broughton, or even with the British nation. It has 
existed from time immemorial, and had reached that 
exalted position in public favor, that it was introduced 
in the twenty-third Olympiad (B. C. 688.) Gym- 
nastics were the life and soul of the Greek Festivals. 
The G-ymnasium was the school of ai-t. Men came to 
gaze on the manly beauties of the athlete, the grace of 
his movements, his exhibition of heroic strength, and 
his beautiful physical development. 

The first account we have of a regular fist fight, was 
between Astidamus and Herodotus in the Palestra of 
the city of Sparta, (B. 0. 460,) and we are informed 
it occuiTed in this wise. Herodotus, though a stranger, 
saw a great many Spartan maidens, and being as great 
an admirer of beauty as most young men are at five- 



INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING. 99 

and-twentj, he gradually formed tlie opinion that 
Chrjsis, the daughter of Myron the Greek, was the 
handsomest gui he had ever seen in his life. Grace 
and loveliness were combined with a fine, commanding 
figm-e, befitting (as Herodotus thought) an independ- 
ent Queen of a mighty empire. Now as our young 
traveller knew full well that no Spartan maiden might 
intermarry with a foreigner, he considered it perfectly 
right and justifiable to admire Ohrysis ; but once, after 
admiring her as usual, he chanced to look behind him, 
and there encountered the angry scowl of a young 
Spartan, apparently a year or two older than himself. 
" Young Ionian," said the Spartan, steadily, looking at 
him full in the faca "I am not an Ionian but a 
Dorian, like yourself," replied Herodotus. " Dorian of 
Persia," sneered the Spartan, " did you ever go inside 
a Gymnasium?" "1 will engage with you whenever 
you please," replied Herodotus, very much irritated. 
" If thou art as good as thy word, young warrior, come 
with me to the Palestra," said the Spartan. Herodotus 
at once acquiesced, and though he looked with some 
concern at the extraordinary muscular development of 
his antagonist, and was himself out of practice, yet he 
remembered his former skill in the Palestra, and did 
not for a moment shrink from the combat. The 
Gymnasium was exactly like the one at Halicamassus, 



100 INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING. 

only on a mucli larger scale. A crowd of young men 
were practicing there, but the Spartan merely said, " A 
Dorian stranger wishes to have a trial with me in the 
Palestra ;" and every one immediately proceeded to the 
spot, and in a few moments Herodotus and his antag- 
onist were stripped and ready for the pugilistic 
encounter. "Shall we fight with the cestus or not?" 
cried the Spartan. "As you please," said Herodotus. 
Now the cestus consisted of thongs of leather, covered 
with knobs of metal, which the regular athletes were 
accustomed to draw over their fists and wrists, for the 
purpose of making their blows more severe. The spec- 
tators, who saw almost by instinct that the boxing 
match was merely got up to settle a private quarrel, 
interfered to j)revent the use of the murderous gloves, 
and the Spartan reluctantly threw them on one side. 
In the first round Herodotus saw that he was no 
match for his more muscular and equally experienced 
antagonist. He could get no opportunity of planting a 
single blow upon the Spartan,' and indeed it was as 
much as he could do to ward off" the blows so accu- 
rately and powerfully dealt by his antagonist ; while he 
felt that the superior powers of endurance which his 
adversary evidently possessed, would gain the day to a 
certainty. He now resolved to die like a Spartan. 
With one word to Zeus and one thought to his mother, 



INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING. 101 

he awaited the fury of his antagonist. The Spartan's 
fists broke through his guards like sledge-hammers ; 
but though aimed at his face they only fell upon his 
chest and shoulders. At length Herodotns grew 
bewildered and dizzy. His legs tottered beneath him, 
but he determined to stand fast to the last moment. A 
left handed blow from the back of the Spartan's fist 
just between the eyes of Herodotus, at last brought our 
hero senseless to the ground, and he saw no more. 
Spartan boxing had been too much for him. Training 
AND PEACTICE had triumphed. 

The Grreeks, who, more than any of the ancients 
anterior to the Eomans, taught the training of the body 
by gymnastic exercises, required a more severe course 
of discipline and practice for those who were to be 
professional than those who were merely amateurs, 
and indulged in it only for purposes of health and 
strength. The former were called Athletes^ and the 
latter Agonistoe. The latter often contended at the 
public festivals. The difierence of training required 
for the amateur and he who is fitting for a contest, is 
quite obvious. Gladiatorial feats were first introduced 
at Eome A. U. C, 488, by Marcus and Decimus 
Brutus, at the funeral of their father. 

When first introduced they were confined to public 
funerals, and were afterwards fought at the funerals 



102 INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING. 

of most people of consequence, and even at those of 
women. Hippocrates is said to have been the first to 
apply the exercises and regimen of the gymnasium to 
the removal of diseases and for the maintenance of 
health. Asclepiades, a Greek physician who emigrated 
to Rome, carried this so far, that he is said by Celsus to 
have banished the use of internal medicines from his 
practice ; and this ancient savant carried the practice 
to such an excellent extent on his own physical system, 
that Pliny asserts that he lived for upwards of a century, 
and at last was killed by a fall down stairs. What a 
terrible fall for the adopted Roman ! 

Although Boxing was a barbarous custom in those 
days, it has been humanely ameliorated since. For in 
the classic daj^s of Rome, when a gladiator was 
wounded the people called out, '■'■Habet'''' or ^'- Hoc liahet^^' 
and the one who was maimed lowered his arms in 
token of submission. His fate, however, depended 
upon the will of the people, who pressed down their 
thumbs if they wished him to be saved, and turned 
them up if they wanted him killed. In concluding 
this introduction we would state that four things are to 
be particularly attended to, viz : 

1. Cleansing the system from all dead and waste 
matter. 

2. Taking away all superfluous fat, etc., by sweating. 



INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING. 103 

3. A regimen that nourishes tlie bodj, and gives 
elasticity to the whole frame. 

4. That daily course of exercise which expands the 
mind, and strengthens and hardens the muscles. 

"We had in this connection prepared some remarks on 
the theory and practice of respiration, and on the abso- 
lute necessity of keeping "in wind," as the professional 
phrase is, in all pugilistic and other manly sports, and 
how by pursuing certain methods pointed out by the 
physiologists they might be accomplished. But we 
beg leave to submit to the reader, in lieu thereof, some 
suggestions on the subject taken from the " New York 
Leader," and transcribed into these pages: "As has 
already been said, a man trains in order that he may on 
a given day or days exert for a certain time his muscu- 
lar power to the utmost in a particular manner ; the 
muscular system, then, is chiefly implicated in any 
athletic sports. The power which is to drive the mus- 
cles, as the power of steam drives an engine, is pro- 
vided by the nerves — a fact much overlooked and but 
little discussed by those who write on this topic. 
There is also the circulatory apparatus which is to carry 
nourishment to the muscles and nerves by means o^ 
blood ; the digestive organs which supply to the blood 
the elements of the food ; and others whose function is 
to remove dead and waste matter, and to act as auxil- 



104 INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING. 

iaries in various ways. In addition to all tliese there is 
the respiratory system, wliicli purifies the .blood by 
getting rid of the carbonic acid, and by assimilating 
oxygen ; and this is before all necessary to life, and 
must no less necessarily be in perfect working order 
when any violent muscular exertion is to be under- 
gone. The last mentioned fact is so obvious, that it at 
once engages the attention of those who devote them- 
selves to training. No book on training that has yet 
appeared attempts to give a physiological account of 
respiration. Let us consider briefly what we mean by 
a man out of breath, and in breath. The amount of air 
that may be in a man's chest at one time or other may 
vary considerably. First of all, there is a certain quan- 
tity which is always there, which we cannot expel by 
any effort, which remains there even after death. To 
this the name of residual air has been given, and it has 
been supposed to average in quantity some one hun- 
dred and twenty cubic inches. Next, we have a still 
larger quantity, which by an effort, after an ordinary 
expiration we can expel, but which we do not expel in 
an ordinary expiration. This is estimated at one hun- 
dred and thirty cubic inches, and has been called the 
supplementary air. These two qualities, the residual 
and the supplementary, remain permanently in the 
chest when we have done breathing out ; they form the 



INTEODUOTION TO TKAINING. 105 

cliief portion of the air whicli is at any time contained 
in the chest, and from their permanence they have 
received the name of resident air. Then we have the 
ordinary inspiration and expiration, which is set down 
at twenty-six cubic inches ; and lastly, there is the 
quantity which we can add to all the foregoing by a 
violent inspiration. This is termed the complementary, 
and may be about one hundred cubic inches. The four 
volumes, the residual, the supplementary, the breath, 
and the complementary, will accordmg to this estimate 
amount to three hundred a,nd seventy-six cubic inches. 
Kow it is the resident air — ^the ever present residual, 
and the almost ever present supplementary, which is 
alone concerned in the purification of the blood in the 
supply of oxygen, and the reception of carbonic acid 
and vapor. The air of ordinary respiration, the 
breath, does not at once reach the air-cells, or even 
the smaller air-tubes. Its presence would be inju- 
rious to health and even to life. If it ever chances to 
get down too far, it makes us cough. There is a pro- 
gressive intermixture of the fresh air and the resident 
au' from without, inwards, so that the whole process is 
gradual. The resident air, then, is the source from 
which the blood derives its oxygen and into which 
it exhales its carbonic acid and vapor. The advantages 
of this it would be superfluous to dwell upon here ; 
5* 



106 INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING, 

the action on the blood, instead of being perpetually 
fluctuating, is continuous and uninterrupted ; we are 
protected against any sudden invasion of cold, hot, or 
impure air ; the air-cells, also, instead of being alter- 
nately empty and fall, are kept always fall, and in this 
way keep up an equable pressure on the vessels. For 
these and other reasons we do not breathe to the bottom 
of our lungs at every breath, but retaining always some 
two-hundred and fifty cubic inches of residuous air, we 
gradually renew and change it by breathing, by inspir- 
ing some twenty-five or twenty-six cubic inches of fresh 
cold air. This is the normal state of a man not taking 
any violent exercise. So soon as action begins, so soon 
as he begins to run or row, his circulation is quickened 
by the rapid muscular movements, the blood is sent 
into his lungs at a vastly increased rate, and conse- 
quently there is an increased demand for air. Now the 
novice, when he begins to run, commits the gi-ave mis- 
take of breathing out his resident air ; in order to com- 
mand for a deeper inspiration, he reduces his resident 
air greatly, and he is not able to replace it by the 
atmospheric air, which is too oxygenous and too 
cold ; so he gets out of breath, and if he cannot by 
degrees recover a certain proportion of that which he 
has lost there is nothing for it but to stop. The more 
experienced man, on the contrary, endeavors to keep all 



INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING. 107 

he has got, and to add to it by intruding on the comple- 
mentary space. When he has replaced the small quan- 
tity which at the commencement of the muscular 
action he may have lost, and when he has raised this 
beyond what it was at starting, by taking in the com- 
plementary air also, he is said to have got his " second 
wind," and he can then go on comfortably for a long 
period. He tries by practice to attain the art of hold- 
ing his breath and adding thereto — not the faculty of 
strong and deep expiration and inspiration. His object 
is to increase the capacity of his chest, to fill it 
fuller and keep it full; so that the phrase so often 
heard in racing stables when a horse is said to have 
"taken a gentle pipe-opener," is singularly incorrect, 
and we should rather try to shut our pipes and keep 
them shut, or we shall soon arrive at the stage when a 
man is seen gasping for air literally like a fish out of 
water. So far we have spoken more especially with 
reference to running. The muscles concerned in pro- 
pelling the body in this way do not interfere with those 
of respiration; so that the runner can by practice and 
care command the latter thoroughly, and run without 
distress for long periods and distances. But the mus- 
cular actions in rowing are altogether different. A 
great number of the important muscles of the arm are 
inserted into, or take their origin from the walls of the 



108 INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING. 

cliest, and tliat tliese may act with. Ml power it is 
necessary that tlie cliest should be firmly distended 
witli air, tliat it may support a great pressure ; just as 
we fill our chests with air when we are going to lift a 
great weight, and retain it during the effort. "We can- 
not then control our respiratory muscles while rowing 
as we can when running : we must at each stroke fill 
our lungs full, for the benefit of the rowing muscles, 
and this may have to be done perhaps forty times in a 
minute. Yet here practice will enable a man to keep 
his chest full, without letting out his resident air. 
Though he must breathe at every stroke, yet he may 
let out a small quantity only, and may fill this up 
again, so as to keep the full complement of air ne- 
cessary for aerating his blood without changing a great 
quantity at each breath. By keeping the chest full for 
a long period every day, either in running or rowing, it 
is certain that it will in time gradually expand and 
its capacity will be increased. It will accustom itself 
to the larger demands made upon it, if this demand be 
made carefully and progressively. As the arm of the 
blacksmith develops, so will the chest of the runner 
and oarsman, and his lungs will acquire a facility of 
keeping a larger quantity of air, both resident and com- 
plementary. He will in fact acquire by practice the 
knack of holding his wind as it is acquired by many 



INTKODUCTION TO TKAESTING. 109 

who theoretically know nothing about respiration." 
These . remarks apply with full force to the athletic 
exercises of Wrestling, Sparring, and Boxing, and they 
demand particular attention.* 

* For a farther elucidation of this subject the general reader is 
referred to the foUo-wing works. "Human Physiology by Dr. Car- 
penter, PhUa. Ed. 1855, p. 300, and Dalton's Human Physiology, 
Ed. 1864, p. 238, and on. 



TMIMNG. 




I HIS most important branch of physical educa- 
tion of the amateur, must needs attract well 
deserved attention ; and it is sincerely hoped by 
the Author of this book, that it will meet the earnest 
approbation of the student of the "art of self-defence." 
A strict attention to this part of the volume will not 
only smooth the arduous path of the pupil in his first 
effort, but be the means of fixing his attention, aiding 
his memory, and inciting him to exercise his own 
mental and physical powers to their utmost extent. It 
is thoroughly believed by the writer that rancor and 
slanderous gossip may be kept down by a judicious use 
of this science, and that it will be an excellent thing to 
teach a man that it is neither good nor safe for him 
to utter anything with his tongue that he is not 
ready at all times to maintain with his hands. In order 
to prepare a man for training, it will be necessary to 
ascertain the state of health he is in at the time of com- 



Ill 



mencing. For in training, as in sparring, there is no 
specific rule in our opinion to guide people of different 
stamina, physical conformation and endurance. It 
would be absurd on our part to impose the same 
amount of training on one whose physical ability was 
not on a par with that of a person of robust health and 
vigorous temperament, as we would on the latter. If 
we were to undertake to prescribe the same regimen 
and exercises indiscriminately to all, these rules would 
doubtless terminate in a perfect failure as regards 
efficiency of the physical development of the training 
parties. We shall not dilate any farther on this point, 
but leave it to the judgment of the pupil ; yet we 
would r'espectfally suggest that at the time of commenc- 
ing the physical education, the pupil, if not competent 
to judge for himself, will get the advice of a competent 
physician, and after receiving from this disciple of 
Esculapius the desired information, he will in some 
measure be guided thereby. "We will now presume 
that the pupilis in perfect health at the time he con- 
templates undergoing physical training, and will advise 
him, to begin with, to eschew all violent or laborious 
exercises, such as lifting heavy weights, throwing out 
heavy dumb-bells, climbing ladders hand over hand, 
etc., etc., which tend more to exhaust the vitality 
than develop strength. Do everything naturally, and 



112 TRAINING. 

take all possible care not to break down tbe system by 
over-exertion eitber in eating, drinking or training, as a 
false step in one may disarrange the whole physi- 
cal machinery. Many a man who has toiled hard 
for weeks, nay even months, in order to prepare himself 
for a combat — who has been full of courage, honest in 
purpose, with an indomitable will to overcome every 
difficulty, and his opponent in particular— has by over- 
exertion and anxiety been rendered more unfit for the 
contest, on the day of battle, than on the initial day of 
training. Therefore we would advise our readers that 
their reason should dictate to them to perform their 
tasks thoroughly, and, at the same time, in the quaint 
language of honest Will Shakespeare, to ''use all 
gently." No doubt most of our readers will be pleased 
to have us go into the minutiae of all the paraphernalia 
of training. As well might we attempt to teach the 
English language leaving out of the lessons the classi- 
fication of the nouns, pronouns, adverbs, etc., etc., 
etc., as to attempt to teach • a pupil how to train 
without first entering into the details which are essen- 
tial ; we shall therefore take upon ourself the responsi- 
bility of dictating to the pupil the clothes that should 
comprise the outfit for training. Let the " Sophomore" 
therefore provide himself with two sets of flannels, a 
pair of thick, solid " lace-up" boots, a woollen over- 



TEAINING. 113 

shirt, a pair of well-fitting pants, a pair of gloves, a 
short stick, and a round clotli jacket. Having now 
fully equipped the- amateur, we can best explain how 
he is to train by the manner in which we have under- 
gone the same operation. To do this, we shall drop 
our modesty and express ourself in the first person 
without a fear of being charged with egotism. For the 
first week I did very little labor, simply confining 
myself to abstinence, plain diet, and gentle aperients, 
of course taking occasional breathings in the open air, 
say from five to eight miles per diem^ at a quiet and 
easy gait, neither straining nor exhausting myself; 
thus preparing myself for the more rigid work that 
was to follow. The next week I put myself on 
regular training diet, which was principally as follows. 
For breakfast, one or two lean mutton chops, (according 
to appetite,) one boiled egg, stale bread, and a cup of 
tea. For dinner, let me commence with Monday's 
dinner ; a piece of boiled chicken, and one potato, and 
that not as large as your head, nor as small as a certain 
sanitary commissioner's benevolence, but still a potato, 
with bread at least two days old. I had the bread, 
made by an experienced baker, mixed with a few 
raisins, (the bread not the baker) and for my beverage a 
glass of sherry wine and water, or if preferable a cup 
of tea, or a glass of old ale. For supper, a pint of sago 



114 TEAINING. 

or oatmeal gniel, with a little bread or toast I do not 
believe in the system advocated by many trainers, who 
send their subjects to bed supperless, as in my opinion 
it would of necessity take the system a longer period to 
become accustomed to this abstemiousness, without any 
beneficial results ; in fact I think it would be literally 
starving a man to condition. Let me here remark that 
seasoning condiments of all kinds should be dispensed 
with if possible, except in actual cases where the pupil 
cannot possibly do without them, as they create thirst 
and over-heat the system. On Tuesday for dinner a 
little roast beef, not cooked as some people have a 
notion, or more properly speaking, not cooked at all, 
but done according to the desire and taste of the parties 
eating it. Breakfast and supper as before. On 
"Wednesday for dinner, a boiled leg of mutton with 
"no capers," (either with the cook or the Southdown,) 
and so on through the week. Simple as you see this 
description of the several days' diet, it comprised the 
whole variety of my food while- undergoing training, 
with perhaps substituting a beefsteak and a cup of 
weak coffee for breakfast, for the mutton-chop 
and tea. I would recommend a glass of sherry wine 
in the morning, with a small piece of tea biscuit, or 
Boston cracker, just before commencing the morning 
exercises, as it is an excellent guard against the faint- 



i 



TBAINING. 116 

ness wliicli often arises from training on an empty 
stomacli. For the second and after weeks, my work 
was as follows (or nearly so :) I arose at six o'clock, 
received a sponge batli, rnbbed well, and dried with, a 
coarse towel ; exchanged my night flannels for others, 
and then gently exercised with a pair of ^'- Kehoe^s 
Clubs," (eight pound Indian clubs,) to expand the 
chest and get me thoroughly awake. Then I started 
off at an easy gait, increasing my speed to a sharp 
walk, until I had accompHshed four miles, when I 
turned and started for home at full walking speed until 
I had arrived within a quarter of a mile of my training 
establishment, which intervening distance I always ran. 
Having arrived at my domicil, I would quickly jump 
between the blankets, being now in a state of profuse 
perspiration. I was rubbed with coarse towels or 
pieces of flannel until I was perfectly dry, and remained 
in bed until I was perfectly cool. Then I was the 
recipient of a dose of hand-rubbing, the hands of the 
trainers only rubbing one way, i. e. downwards, (you 
will find this severe till you get used to it.) Then I 
again changed my flannels, and partook of my morning 
repast. Breakfast being over, I would rest myself for 
an hour or so, and then again exercise with the Indian 
clubs, gently as before, or instead, pitch quoits, or roll 
a game of ten-pins^ and then start off for the grand 



110 



TEAINING. 



promenade, whicTi would consist of about five and a 
half miles out and back ; the last half mile being run 
at good speed ; then I would undergo at the hands of 
my trainer the same delicate attention as in the early 
mom, and after getting thoroughly cool and changing 
flannels would be ready for my noonday repast, with 
an appetite that an Alderman might envy. After 
dinner I had an hour's siesta, and then having put on a 
light pair of lace-up boots took a rapid walk of about 
four miles out and back, interspersed with running 
sports of about eighty or a hundred yards at my 
topmost speed. On returning home would strike at a 
swinging bag filled with oats and hay until I was well 
tired and in a profuse perspiration ; after which, I would 
again undergo the bear-like caresses of my trainer, put 
on dry flannels, and stroll about till supper- time. 
After supper I would row gently in a boat if I felt so 
disposed, if not, I would exercise with the Indian 
clubs. This constituted my day's work. By thus 
giving an idea of one day's work, the pupil can readily 
conceive the nature of my whole system of training, 
and can adapt it, according to his own judgment, to his 
own particular condition, with such modifications as 
may be desirable. In order to render our work more 
valuable to the amateur and general reader, we have 
deemed it proper to introduce here the views of 



TBAINING. 117 

Stonehenge, concurred in by Forest, and other gym- 
nasts and trainers of eminence, on this subject, leaving 
it, without comment farther, to the judgment of those 
interested, as to the method they should adopt. The 
following diet will be found the best for all training 
purposes : 

Breakfast. — There is no doubt but the very best food 
for this meal is oatmeal-porridge, with the addition of a 
certain allowance of beef or mutton, and a little bread ; 
but many have the greatest objection to this diet, and 
never eat it without loathing. For them, I believe the 
next best beverage is a pint of table-beer, homemade, 
and not too strong, and giving with it a larger allow- 
ance of bread. It is not desirable to stint the appetite, 
unless very enormous, or unless there is a great super- 
abundance of fat ; but I believe it will, in most cases, 
be found more advantageous to reduce the weight by 
work and sweating, than by starving. 

The best mode of dressing the meat is to broil it : 
and here I must say a word about the degree of 
cookery to which it should be subjected. It is gener- 
ally directed that the steak or chop should be quite 
underdone; this I am sure is a fallacy. In broiling, 
very little nutriment is lost after the outside is once 
caught by the fire. Now, if nothing is lost, there is 
much gained by keeping the steak on the gridiron till 



118 TRAINING. 

properly done through ; for the food is rendered much 
more palatable to most, and certainly more digestible 
to all. I have knowti many who were thoroughly 
disgusted by their "red rags," as they Have called their 
underdone steaks, and from their dislike to such food 
were quite unable to digest them. Tea and coffee are 
not good for training purposes, though I do not think 
them so bad as is generally supposed, if not taken too 
strong; cocoa is too greasy, and not so good as tea; 
which, if taken, should not be green. I am inclined to 
think, that in those cases where tea and coffee are 
habitually taken, and porridge or beer are much disliked, 
it is better to allow them than to attempt too great an 
alteration in diet. Butter, sauces, and spices should be 
carefully avoided ; and nothing but salt and a very 
slight dash of black pepper used as a condiment. 

Dinner. — This important meal should consist of roast 
beef or mutton, or occasionally a boiled leg of mutton 
may be allowed as a change ; but veal, pork, and salt 
beef or bacon should be avoided ; ' also goose, duck, and 
wildfowl generally. Eoast fowls or partridges or 
pheasants, are very good food Hare is too apt to be 
accompanied by high seasoned stuffing, without which 
it is scarcely palatable. Nothing is better than venison, 
when comeatable ; but it should be eaten without 
seasoned sauce or currant jelly. As to vegetables, 



TRAINING. 119 

potatoes may be eaten, but very sparingly ; not more 
than one or two at a meal ; cauliflower or broccoli only 
as an occasional change, and no other vegetable is 
allowable. Bread may be given ad libitum and about 
a pint to a pint and a half of good sound home-made 
beer. If this does not agree, a little sherry and water, 
or claret and water, may be allowed with the meal, and 
a glass or two of the former wine, or of good sound 
port after dinner. When the training is continued for 
any length of time, and the previous habits of the 
party have accustomed the stomach to it, I have found 
tbe occasional use of white-fish, sucK as cod or soles, a 
very usefal change. Nothing disorders the stomach of 
man more than keeping to one diet ; " Toujours 
perdrix " is enough, to tire any one, even of so good a 
fare ; and this must be constantly borne in mind by the 
trainer. The round he can make is not very extensive, 
but let bim by all means stretch it to the utmost limits 
of whicb it is capable. It is even desirable to give an 
occasional pudding, but it should always have bread 
for its foundation, A good cook will easily make a 
very palatable pudding of bread, with a little milk, and 
an egg or two ; and this, served up with fresh green 
gooseberries boiled, or any common preserve, is by no 
means disagreeable to the palate, or unwholesome to the 
stomach ; but let it be only as a change, not as other- 



120 TEAINING, 

wise usefal. The grand articles of diet are beef and 
mutton, with, bread or porridge; and if the stomach 
and palate would accept them gratefully, no change 
would be necessary : but as they seldom will, the best 
plan is not to attempt too much. 

Supper. — Many trainers object to this meal ; but lam 
satisfied from experience, that unless the training is of 
so long a duration as to thoroughly accustom the 
stomach to the long fast from dinner to the next morn- 
ing, it is much better to allow a light meal at eight 
o'clock. Oatmeal porridge is for this purpose the best ; 
and no one will be the worse for a pint of it, with some 
dry toast to eat with it, or soaked in the porridge itself 
I do not believe that meat is ever necessary at night, 
except in very delicate constitutions, who require 
unusual support. For such cases I have found a chop 
at night, with a glass of port wine or even of eg^ and 
sherr}^, a very valuable means of keeping up the 
strength. Indeed, it will be found that no absolute 
rule can be laid down for all cases: and the trainer 
requires great experience and aptness for his task to 
enable him to bring all his men out in the same degree 
of relative strengtk Nothing is so likely to destroy a 
boat's chance as a variable state of condition in the 
component parts of the crew. It is far better that all 
should tire equally, than that half should shut up early 



TRAINING. 121 

in the race, wliile tlie others are capable of Msing their 
full strengtL Hence, as I have- before remarked, some 
will require much more liberal and generous diet than 
others. If, for instance, the habit is gross, and the 
appetite good, it will be needful to allow only the 
plainest diet, and to vary it very little. By this pre- 
caution, enough, and not too much, is sure to be taken, 
and the amount of work will ensure its digestion. If, 
on the other hand, the constitution is delicate, with a 
want of appetite, want of digestion, and tendency to too 
great a loss of flesh, then it is desirable to allow consid- 
erable change from day to day ; and as far as is 
prudent, to comply with the particular fancies of the 
palate. Many stomachs bear port wine well; and in 
those who have a tendency to diarrhoea it is often 
indispensable. Others, again, are purged by oatmeal, 
and this is a sufficient reason for avoiding porridge. 
In some all the bread should be toasted to prevent 
diarrhoea, whilst in others, when constipation is present, 
coarse brown bread, made from the genuine undressed 
flour, is a good remedy for that troublesome eviL 
Whatever bread is eaten, it should be two days old, 
and the beef and mutton hung as long as the weather 
will permit. The best part of a sheep for chops is the 
leg of a two -or three-year-old wether ; and for steaks, 
a well-hung rump, or the inside of a sirloin. It is 
6 



122 TRAINING. 

often the practice to allow the crew to put into the 
river-side tavern, during- the hours of practice, and take 
half a pint or a pint of beer or porter each. This plan 
I am sure is bad, the strength ought never to depend 
on immediate stimulants, and it is far better to shorten 
the practice than to keep it up by these means. I am 
quite sure that in training there are very few who 
require more than three pints, or at the outside two 
quarts of good beer per day, of the strength of five 
bushels to the hogshead; and the average quantity 
required is certainly not more than two pints and a 
half per man. Allowance must of course be made for 
previous habits, and for strength or weakness of consti- 
tution. In the early days of practice, and in the race 
itself, great distress sometimes occurs ; there is consid- 
erable blueness of face from congestion, and the 
breathing is labored and difficult. The best remedy 
for this state is a glass of warm brandy and water and 
plenty of hard friction on the feet, legs, and thighs, or 
if it still persists, a warm bath at 98 degrees." 



CORPULEl^CY: 

ITS CURE AND PREYENTIOK 




S somewhat connected witli the various matters 
^ treated of in the foregoing pages, we propose 
to make some remarks on that uncomfortable 
state in which men find themselves by their own course 
of life, to wit, corpulency : also upon the proper rhode 
for its reduction and prevention. That many persons 
never become corpulent, no matter what they may eat 
or drink, is undoubtedly true. These remarks are not 
for them but those whose habits of living have pro- 
duced that degree of obesity which if it does not render 
life a burden, begets in him who is afflicted with it 
(for it is almost a disease) a state extremely uncomforta- 
ble, sometimes painful, and always mortifying. The 
figure becomes disproportioned. The weight of the 
body is increased to such a degree that walking cannot 
be endured without great inconvenience, and sometimes 
pains in the feet and ankles. The ascending and 



124 CORPULENCY. 

descending a flight of stairs is very troublesome, and 
cannot be performed in many cases without assistance. 
The putting on and off of one's shoes becomes impossi- 
ble in many instances ; and even the tying and getting 
on of one's cravat must be performed by others. Even 
the necessary ablution cannot be performed without 
assistance ; besides there are many of the inconve- 
niences attending the condition of excessive obesity 
which readily suggest themselves to the intelligent 
reader, whether he be married or single. 

Let us here remark that the art of reducing excessive 
corpulency has been so little practised, if practised at 
all, and there has been such a diversity of opinion in 
regard to the proper mode, as to prevent most persons 
from making the trial ; and some modes of treatment 
prescribed have been so severe as to deter the most 
anxious from making the attempt to secure their 
benefits. We have no doubt of our remedy, as it is a 
practical one, and not founded on theory alone, and we 
are only surprised that some of the learned faculty have 
not made it a study, and can only account for their 
omission on the ground that obesity is the nursing 
garden of many diseases. So, if we can be of any 
assistance to those thus afflicted we shall not only have 
the infinite pleasure and gratification of knowing that 
we have succeeded in our primary object, that of repay- 



CORPULENCY. 125 

ing our labor, but give satisfaction to those afflicted 
Witt this dreadful calamity. Our remedy is simple and 
easy of adoption, and unlike training, as it needs no 
violent exercise to reduce the weight, but a strict 
regard to dietetics. Let all those who are suffering from 
corpulency and desire relief, give our plan a fair trial, 
say a month, and they will soon ascertain for themselves 
the efficacy of it. There are doubtless countless thou- 
sands, who, laboring under disabilities of obesity, feel the 
blush of shame or their ire rising at the sneering jests 
or uncouth remarks passed upon them by the cruel or 
unthinking ; for what is more apt to excite criticism 
than the appearance of stout or corpulent individuals ? 
Their unwieldy gait, and futile endeavors to appear 
sprightly, will naturally raise a smile on the faces of 
the most decorous. And now that a proper course of 
action is presented, it is our sincere wish that all of 
those of a corpulent habit will avail themselves of it. 
The first thing to be ascertained is whether the person 
who is about to adopt our system is willing to abide by 
the following injunctions for a time. Yery little salt, 
pepper, or mustard in the food ; no butter, very little 
bread ; no milk or sugar in the tea ; no champagne, port 
wine, ale, or porter — " Stop, stop !" you say ; " you have 
left us nothing." Wait patiently, don't be hasty ! the 
world was not made in a day, neither shall we recommend 



126 CORPULENCY. 

ye corpulenters (new word) to rush headlong into this 
sudden change. Take everything easy, and if you 
regain that elasticity of frame and buoyancy of spirits 
in six months which has been years buried in fatty 
oblivion, you ought to be thankful. Well, having 
talked you into good humor, we will proceed, 
with your consent. On rising in the morning take a 
sponge bath of luke-warm water, be well rubbed all 
over with a coarse towel, a broad piece of flannel 
wrapped round the abdomen to keep it compact and 
warm; change the under garments often, (say every 
other day.) Keep warm at night during sleep, and 
don't throw the covering off if it can be avoided. 

We would here state that there are two kinds of 
treatment for the reduction of obesity independent of 
physical exercises, viz : — that caused by sudorifics, and 
the other by dieting. We would recommend the latter 
as the most safe, reliable, and natural, and it has also 
the great merit of being the more permanent one, 
causing no suffering whilst undergoing the experi- 
mental treatment, but {au contraire) confirming a 
continuous progressive benefit both to health and 
appearance. The diet will consist of, for breakfast, from 
four to five ounces of lean animal food, with three 
ounces of soda biscuit, or Boston brown bread, or, if 
preferable, crackers ; one cup of tea, coffee, water, or 



CORPULENCY. 127 

sherry and water. For dinner a nice cut of eitlier 
mutton roast or boiled, or roast beef, no vegetables 
oftener than three times a week, and they only to assist 
digestion ; with not over one pint of liquid. In dining, 
don't use soups, fish, or celeiy, in fact don't have any- 
thing on the table but just what you are going to eat, 
nothing that may tend to excite the appetite or lead 
you into temptation. Cut every particle of fat or 
gristle from your meat, and don't let it be overdone. 
For supper a little sago-gruel (not over half a pint) 
with three ounces of toast, or three ounces of the breast 
of turkey or chicken, with the same amount of stale 
bread, half a pint of any kind of beverage other than 
the proscribed. To all those who have been in the habit 
of indulging freely in drinking liquor, we say don't leave 
it off suddenly, take it easy, reduce it gradually, but 
mind you do reduce it, so that the sum total of your 
liquid drinking, including tea, water, etc., will not reach 
over three pints per day, and if by a steady application 
of these rules any person gets himself down to that 
symmetry of form that is so desirable, it will be his own 
fault if he does not stay there. After having got there, 
let him exercise his own judgment, as to what he shall 
eat and drink, and if he does not exercise it rightly 
and becomes again a mass of adipose matter^ he will get 
no sympathy from us. A person once reduced to a 



128 COEPUIiENCY 

proper weight, will find no trouble in preventing a 
recurrence of Ms difficulty. The age of the subject 
makes very little difference, for persons of the age of 
sixty-five, so corpulent as to be unable to attend to 
ordinary business, have been fully relieved in three 
months. And this without the loss of strength or 
physical energy, but on the contrary an increase of 
both. 

In a letter written to and for the public by Mr. Bant- 
ing, an English gentleman, sixty-five years of age, and 
indorsed by Dr. William Harvey, F. R C. S., he pre- 
scribes the following regimen, which it seems he adopted 
for himself with great benefit ; and little inconvenience 
was caused by the change. 

For breakfast, I take four or five ounces of beef, mut- 
ton, kidneys, broiled fish, bacon, or cold meat of any 
kind except pork ; a large cup of tea (without milk or 
sugar,) a little biscuit, or one ounce of dry toast. 

For dinner, five or six ounces of any fish except sal- 
mon, any meat except pork, any vegetable except 
potato, one ounce of dry toast, fruit out of a pudding, | 
any kind of poultry or game, and two or three glasses i 
of good claret, sherry, or Madeira — champagne, port and 
beer forbidden. 

For tea, two or three ounces of fi'uit, a rusk or two, 
and a cup of tea without milk or sugar. 



CORPULENCY. 129 

For supper, three or four ounces of meat or fish, sim- 
ilar to dinner, with a glass or two of claret. 

For nightcap, if required, a tumbler of grog — (gin, 
whiskey, or brandy, without sugar) — or a glass or two 
of claret or sherry. 

This prescription would undoubtedly effect the 
object, but we think it unnecessarily severe in any case, 
and particularly so for aged persons. One half of the 
quantity recommended by Mr. Banting would bring 
about the reduction much sooner, but the necessarily 
accompanying effects would in most cases be positively 
injurious. And one could become emaciated in a very 
short time by eating nothing, but like the Grecian 
horse, as soon as he gets so as to live without eating, 
he would die, 

A gentleman of this city has been pursuing our 
system forty-three days. He is forty -nine years of age, 
five feet ten inches in height, at the commencement of 
the course, he measured forty-nine inches around the 
waist, and weighed two hundred and thirty-three 
pounds. His weight then was very uncomfortable ; he 
could not tie his shoes or put on his boots but with the 
greatest dif&culty, and could not take exercise without 
great discomfort. There was a constant tendency to 
sleep after meals, even after breakfast, and this too after 
having enjoyed a good night's rest It was almost 



130 CORPULENCY. 

impossible for him to keep awake in the evening, at 
cliurch, or at the lecture and concert rooms, and he 
was oftentimes mortified to find himself jogged bj a 
person sitting next to him to prevent his disturbing the 
audience by his snoring. 

At this time he weighs two hundred and fourteen 
pounds, measures forty-two inches around the waist, 
exercises with pleasure and profit, and does not snore in 
church, his general health is improved, and his figure 
is getting to be quite symmetrical. The prescribed 
regimen is still co' aued by him. The reduction in 
the case cited is certai ' ' rapid enough, and is without 
any danger to the heal.,, and not in the least trouble- 
some or inconvenient. 

We say, therefore, that there need be no hurry in this 
matter. Take it quietly. Be persevering, and regular, 
and the thing will be done. The object is not to starve 
and destroy the patient^ but to destroy his superfluous 
fat, and strengthen and harden his muscles, increase 
his nervous energy, and, in short, to make a new man 
of him. 

THE END. 



\ 



■VI -r.. - ^c 










»»^ 



